Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-09-21
= Serial Sturg.
ALL THE VRlDl1|'K||llAR, J !
BY WALTER BEsAST'ss'S'
cHAprERtHI.
LUCKY RUN.

gEs . q
ALucKY RUN f.;;
From the moment VIII heard abcut
the smuggling he began to get restiesei
He would follow Dan down to the beach
and talk while he looked after the boats.
rKnew that he was pumping Dams ad-
ventures out Of him-a process by, no
means difficult. Dams anecdotes were
chiefly Of narrow escapes-not from rev.
enue cutters or privateers so much as
from sea fogs. Once in thick fog he
nearly put straight into Bridport harbor,
there being at the time only light
breeze from the southeast, and revenue
cutter armed and manned lying within
the two piers, ready to give him and his
cargo warm welcome. Another time he
had to heave overheard the whole OF his
cargo almost under the very nose OF his
pursuers. He knew the whole OF the
French coast, from Dunkerque to St.
Malo, and was known in every port. He
would drop along the shore, hugging the
land, so as to look as much as possible
like fishing smack, till he arrived at his
destinations; when, you may be sure, he
took very little time to load and go away
again. Or there were tales Of heavy seas
and stiff sou'westers. Dan was 90 years
Of age or thereabouts at this time, and
his memory carried him back for half
century Of smuggling. His father before
him, and his grandfather before him, had
been yeomen Of Rousdon, like himself,
and, like himself, mainly dependent on
the Illicit trade.
Now, there was hardly anything more
likely to excite the imagination Of town
bred youth than tale of a successful and
hazardous run. The romance, such rs 1t
was, of highwaymen was over. There
were still plenty Of them, and they were
always hanged when they were caught,
so that they were not without some glory.
But, considered as heroes, they had had
their day. The degenerate successors OF
Claude Duval were either desperate muir
derers, like the Blacks Of Waltham, or
they were poor, commonplace, ragged
footpads. But the smuggler-the man
who encountered the dangers Of war, OF
storm and of the revenue ofacers-was
still O hero. So that Dan leaped at once,
in the estimation Of VIII, from good
natured, cheerful old sailor to the level OF
sea king; and this despite the young
mans early training and prejudice.
Then came evenings in which after the
violin had discoursed, we sat round the
fire and talked of nothing else but old
trips and their results, Countless were
the questions put by Wn-questions as to
the French coast, the French people, their
ways, and their manners; as to the boat,
and the navigation Of the Channel; as to
the danger and the delight Of running fif-
teen knots an hour, everything made snug
and taut, carrying all canvas, with
heavy seas washing over the gallant little
craft. never thought what might hap
pen. had lived so long in an atmos-
phere of carelessness to danger that had
quite ceased to believe in any danger.
And when Will begged Dan to take him,
too, when he made another run, laughed
and clapped my hands to think how he
would enjoy it.
tDan made difficulties. he said it was
not young gentleman's work; that his
lady mother might get to hear Of it; that
things might happen; that he would never
be easy in his mind afterward If anything
did happen. Finally, over-persuaded by
the eagerness Of the young man, he ac-
ceded to his request.
We were then in the cold evenings,
about the middle Of October, and in the
last few days of waning moon. The
weather was fine and open, with steady
southwesterly breeze springing up most
nights toward sunset, and lasting till late
the next morning. Dan went over to the
mill to consult with Joshua, who read
lily resigned his place to VIII, on the con-
dition of his not losing his place in the
profits, should the venture be successful.
took this kindly Of Joshua I thought
he must have passed into better frame
of mind, although he had not been once
to the house since the day he threatened
me.
Everything being arranged and the
weather favorable, they went on board at
s in the morning. was in the dingy,
carrying things backward and forward
for them, and when Dan was satisfied
that nothing had been forgotten I dropped
into the little boat and sat in it watching
the Dancing Polly slip out Of the bay
and glide into the darkness, while Will
leaned over the taffrail and waved fare
well to me.
It was nothing unusual for me to sleep
alone in the house. There was no danger
of robbers in so secluded spot as Rous-
don, and there was always o sense Of pro-
lection in the fact Of old Isaac Agus and
his wife sleeping in the cottage hard by.
had no fears for myself. Only, some
how, things were different now. had
left off thinking of myself and thought
all day and night of viii. That night,
for the first time, 7 was timid. I thought
of the little boat sailing across the black
Channel to the euemy's coast. con-
jured up the dangers. Bonaparte might
catch them. He was at Boulogne then,
preparing for the invasion OF England
with every ship, craft, boat of any kind
which he could collect together. The
Dancing Polly might be captured by q
privateer; they might be arrested on the
French coast; they might be wrecked. I
thought Of every danger except the one
most likely to happen-that they might
meet their difficulties on the return voy-
age. For the first time in my life was
afraid, and while sat before the fire con-
juring up the ghosts Of possible disasters
heard step outside. the latch was lifted,
and Joshua Mech showed himself at the
door.
I thought he had been drinking. His
eyes were haggard and bloodshot-those
eyes of his which were too close together
and too small; his face was distorted and
his fingers worked nervously together.
'oThey are gones' he asked, sitting on
Dams settle, with a sort of groan.
Eyes," replied, fearing he was come
for no good. s'They put out at 8. Now,
Joshua. if you have anything to say have
done with it at once and CO."
"I've got this to say" he replied
hoarsely. sI've been trying to put you
out of my mind and can't. Who's Mr..
Campion, that he's to come here and take
away my girl?'
~ never was your girl, joshua =
"You should have been. I'd set my
heart on it. And you shall be yet. There
never was thing that wanted as did
not get. I've always looked to marry
you and nobody but you, and viii yet. I"
"Win your" laughed. "NevTp'
"Don't think shall be an unind hus-
band, my pretty" he said with a sudden
change Of voice and manner. "I love you
too well. shall wrap you up warm and
give you nothing to do only to make your
self happy"
s'Now, joshua" I said, ego! This is
enough foolishness for one night. am
going to marry Mr.. Campion. Do you
hear? I am going to be his wife"
eff you won't listen to fair words" he
said, springing to his feet, ''listen to foul.
I've given you one more chance. It's
your last Will you give up that young
popinjay?"
"No, will not. Gor'
GIVE warned you," he said, "and I'm